Tunnels on Mughal, Sinthan-Anantnag, Sudhmahadev-Khelani roads being pursued with Centre: Bukhari

By
Daily Excelsior
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Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 9: Minister for Public Works (R&B), Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said the State Government is pursuing the matter to construct tunnels on Mughal road, Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag and Sudhmahadev-Chenani-Khelani road with Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. He further said the department is also pursuing for declaration of these roads as National Highways.
The Minister stated this while replying to a question by Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo in the Legislative Council. The Minister also informed the House that Mughal Road Organization has engaged a consultant for undertaking “Feasibility Study and Preparation of Preliminary Project Report (PPR)” for construction of a tunnel on Mughal road. He said the Government has recently contacted a number of private developers to explore possibilities for constructing the tunnels on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model.
Regarding tunnel at Sudhmahadev–Chenani-Khelani road, the Minister said National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation has invited expression of interest for carrying out feasibility study and preparation of DPR for re-alignment of National Highway from Chenani-Khelani via Sudhmahadev. He said it also includes construction of existing road to two lane specification with paved shoulders and construction of tunnel at Dudera.
The Minister said due to heavy rains, flash-floods slips occurred at various stretches of Batote-Kishtwar-Khannabal road resulting in damages to the road. With the result the road was only single lane at some stretches. He added that as per directions of the Chief Minister during his tour to Doda, 40 vulnerable/washed away stretches were identified and protection works taken up on these spots. The Minister said work has been completed on 11 of these spots till date, while as it is in progress in remaining spots.
Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Sham Lal Bhagat, Naresh Gupta, Vibodh Gupta and Firdous Tak raised supplementaries to the main question.

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